The Best Paper for Charcoal Drawing

Charcoal is a great medium to draw with, and if you never have then I suggest you give it a try. Not only can you get the best shades, but you can go into further depths with the charcoal than with any other type of medium that is out there.

One of the worst things I found though, is that charcoal is not ideal for just any paper out there. You risk having a lot of smudges, leak-throughs and bleeds when it comes to using the wrong type of paper.

So I was on a mission to check out some of the most recommended papers for those, like me, that love to draw and shade with charcoal but do not want to worry about the problems that are found when it comes to using them on papers.

Here are some of the best paper products I found for using charcoal when it comes to the drawings that you’re able to make. Happy charcoal drawing!

What to Look for in the Best Paper for Charcoal Drawing

Heavy weight: The paper should be heavier because this prevents the smudging, bleeding and leaks that might happen with many other types of papers out there. When you have a heavier paper, this is something that does not happen too often.

Non-toxic: Non-toxic, acid free paper will ensure that bleeds through the paper do not happen, but it also is safer for everyone to use, especially when your hands are rubbing on the top of the paper while you draw.

Comes in a booklet: Keep your drawings in one place when you choose to go with a booklet of papers that you can flip through and draw on. Of course, the books should also come with an easy way to get the drawings out, if you ever do not want to draw inside the book or give out the picture.

Versatile pages: You want to make sure that you’re able to use the paper for a lot of the other drawing that you do, and not just charcoal. When you go with the right charcoal paper, this should not be a problem because it tends to be heavier and bleed proof for other types of drawing mediums.

Strathmore Charcoal Paper Pad

One of the highest and most regarded brands on the market for drawing products, this Strathmore Charcoal Paper Pad provides the artist with a way to easily create pictures using charcoal, and not having to worry about bleeds, or other things when it comes to it.

The paper is heavy weight, and it comes nicely packaged inside a notebook that keeps all of the drawings and papers together with ease. You can also easily tear out the papers since each of the pages is perforated.

The pages are non-toxic, acid free and made in the USA to keep up with the quality standards that you should come to expect from such a high quality paper product that is being used for all of the drawing that you’re going to be doing.

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Sax Recycled Heavyweight 110 Pound Drawing Paper

Though a little different from the other choices out there, this is for those that want to use white charcoal on a black surface. The Sax Recycled Heavyweight 110 Pound Drawing Paper provides the artist with the dark pages that provides them with a smooth, safe surface to draw on.

Heavy weight and non-toxic, this paper holds up to the test and allows you to do many different charcoal prints.

Of course, some enjoy using other modes of coloring on them such as chalk and pastels that are able to show up on the black background.

They are loose sheets, so you can cycle through them as you draw and not have to keep them bound together. You can enjoy the larger sized pages for putting together your pictures and making them really stand out.

The toothy white surface provides a little pop of texture, but enough smooth surface to create the most beautiful of artwork, while providing you with a way to add some depth to some of the pictures that need a bit more.

The sheets all come bound together inside a booklet, allowing you to easily tear them from the spirals, or keep all of your drawings safe in one area together. Ideal for all drawing types and people that love to draw.